Chiefs training camp officially ramped up Wednesday, as Patrick Mahomes and company all participated to some extent in practice. Missouri Western State University is hosting the Chiefs for a 16th consecutive year in St. Joe, Missouri, with aspirations to get back to the playoffs in full swing.
While additions can still be made with the remaining free agents and trades are certainly still in the cards for every NFL team, who was out on the field today is largely who you will see playing the Denver Broncos in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
Through every stage of the offseason, Mahomes' personal progress returning from an ACL tear has been the topic of discussion. And so far, the three-time Super Bowl MVP has exceeded every checkmark set before him. He should, once again, be one of the Chiefs' last worries on the field.
While general manager Brett Veach has done a fine job on paper of putting the pieces together, in adding Kenneth Walker III, Mansoor Delane, and Peter Woods among others, he may also come to regret one big move that he didn't make.
Kansas City simply doesn't have a reputable edge-rushing unit heading into the season
Sacking the quarterback has been a constant issue for the Chiefs ever since the end of the 2022 season, when they impressed with 50-plus team sacks. Since then, Chris Jones and George Karlaftis have been the only two consistent producers among the defensive line.
The departures of Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu, and Derrick Nnadi this offseason probably came a year too late, but let's just be happy for what they accomplished in Kansas City and wish them well in the next stages of their careers.
What Veach did to replenish the d-line was a commendable job. He's added veteran nose tackle Khyiris Tonga on a three-year deal, who should be able to eat up double-teams and produce more quickness and athleticism than most guys his size at nearly 340 lbs.
And also added rookies Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas to provide the Chiefs with hopefully budding young stars for years to come. But even after those moves and the return of Omarr Norman-Lott, the Chiefs' edge-rushing depth is far too thin.
Ethan Downs going down with a torn ACL just days ago may not be a huge blow, as he wasn't expected to play much, but it does add pressure to an already sparse room. Karlaftis is an entrenched starter and rightfully so. Despite the fact that he may not win quickly, but rather with more power and grit, he is consistently one of the leaders over the past couple of years in league-wide quarterback pressures.
Ashton GIllotte enters year two, and while he showed improvement as the year went on, his handling the roles and expectations of a starter may never be in the cards. We'll see what the Chiefs have in the speed rusher Thomas, but not many rookies typically put together 8-10 sack seasons.
And fourth-year draft bust Felix Anudike-Uzomah being forced into a legitimate role where he'll be slotted to play a third of the snaps is simply malpractice. Veach needs to add another veteran body to the room. Not to be a superstar, but provide 20-25 snaps a game where offenses have to account for their presence. There are guys out there on the open market, ready to be signed, and it's difficult to tell what is taking Veach so long to strike.
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